Chloride content in goat milk as a diagnostic marker for subclinical mastitis.

Objective: The purpose of the research was to assess possible diagnostic parameters related to subclinical mastitis in goats.

Materials and methods: Individual samples of milk from goats were separated into three groups based on the chloride concentration: group I < 70 mmol/l; II group 70-85 mmol/l; III group > 85 mmol/l. The composition of milk was studied, and smears were also made.

Results: When the chloride content in goat milk exceeds 85 mmol/l, the somatic cell count increases by 3.2-5.7 times in relation to milk with a chloride content below 70 mmol/l, depending on the research method used. In the second group, the indicators exceed those of the first group by 2.1-3.8 times. Compared to the second and third groups, the indicator of electrical conductivity in goats of the first group was lower by 13.1% and 31.3%, respectively. Milk from healthy goats, characterized by a chloride content of less than 70 mmol/l, shows a chlorosugar number averaging 5 (ranging from 4.1 to 5.9). In cases where chloride levels in milk exceed 85 mmol/l, the average indicator of the chlorosugar number is 7.2 (from 6.5 to 7.9). If the content of chlorides is > 85 mmol/l, a positive result of the settling test with goat's milk is noted.

Conclusion: A set of indicators such as chloride content > 85 mmol/l, the number of somatic cells >2 million/ml, chlorosugar number ≥ 7, along with confirmed results in the settling and mastidine tests-can be used as a diagnostic criterion for subclinical mastitis in goats.